Roche announced plans yesterday at the AACC 2013 Clinical Lab Expo for the U.S. introduction of the cobas 8100 automated workflow series, an advanced system designed to automate many routine tasks to help diagnostic laboratories increase efficiency, reduce expenses and maximize patient safety.

“This total lab automation solution can make a significant contribution to effective medical decision-making and higher efficiency in the medical laboratory,” said Jack Phillips, president and CEO of Roche Diagnostics Corporation. “In addition to helping labs lower costs and minimize the risk of sample mix-ups, it offers short and predictable turnaround times to help physicians make fast and reliable treatment decisions for patients.”

Using intelligent robotics, the cobas 8100 series automatically prepares blood samples for immediate testing and post-analytical processing, providing high-speed processing of up to 1,100 samples per hour. The system offers dynamic and efficient sample transport options and great flexibility, allowing labs to automate both routine and STAT tests. Healthcare professionals benefit from on-time, high quality diagnostic results for both routine and emergency tests, even at laboratory workload peaks.

The cobas 8100 series can easily be added onto Roche’s existing cobas analyzers, and its flexible, modular design allows labs to grow over time as demand increases. Market availability in the U.S. is expected in 2015.

CoaguChek XS Plus System—now CLIA-waived, the handheld PT/INR meter may be used in labs that do not meet the requirements to perform moderate- or high-complexity testing. cobas 4800 System—offering true walk-away automation of nucleic acid purification, PCR set-up and real-time PCR amplification and detection, the system also runs the cobas CT/NG Test, the cobas BRAF V600 Mutation Test and the cobas EGFR Mutation Test.

cobas 8000 modular analyzer series—third-generation integrated analyzer series that resets the standard for speed and efficiency in high-volume chemistry and immunoassay testing.